As the trend goes, more calls mean more cases. With that comes a greater need for foster families to care for neglected children.

“Foster parents play a very critical role,” said Varela.

According to CYFD, the department is always actively recruiting foster families.

Currently, all 182 foster families in Bernalillo County are caring for kids taken out of dangerous homes. Given the current need, some children are being placed with families outside the county.

“We hope that people will be very inspired,” said Varela.

Foster parents are reimbursed $450-$650 a month per child. They can be single or have a family, but must have a safe living environment and be financially stable, and also pass an extensive six-month screening process.

OUR KOAT FACEBOOK PAGE. WHEN 9-YEAR-OLD OMAREE VARELA WAS BRUTALLY BEATEN TO DEATH, MANY IN NEW MEXICO WERE OUTRAGED... AND WORRIED SUCH A TRAGEDY WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. IN LIGHT OF OMAREE'S DEATH, THE STATE SAYS OTHER ABUSED CHILDREN ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF YOUR HELP. KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER ALANA GRIMSTAD EXPLAINS. GFX: :57-1:05 WHEN 9-YEAR-OLD OMAREE VARELA WAS KILLED, ALLEGEDLY BY HIS OWN MOTHER, PEOPLE'S HEARTS SANK...AND THEIR EYES WERE OPENED. It's played a very large part in people reporting to us. SINCE THEN, MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE, HUNDREDS MORE THAN THE SAME TIME PERIOD LAST YEAR. STATE OFFICIALS SAY OMAREE'S DEATH CREATED A SENSE OF URGENCY. An urgency within the public to report things that they've seen. AS THE TREND GOES--THE MORE CALLS, THE MORE CASES. AND WITH THAT, A MORE DESPERATE NEED FOR FOSTER FAMILIES TO CARE FOR THESE NEGLECTED KIDS. Foster parents play a very critical role. OFFICIALS AT THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT SAY THEY ARE ALWAYS ACTIVELY RECRUITING FOSTER FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY AT TIMES LIKE THIS WHEN THE PHONES ARE RINGING OFF THE HOOK. New Mexicans are well known for stepping up to the plate when fellow New Mexicans need help. And I think there's no better time than now. RIGHT NOW, ALL 182 FOSTER FAMILIES IN BERNALILLO COUNTY ARE CARING FOR KIDS TAKEN OUT OF DANGEROUS HOMES...AND THERE'S SUCH A NEED, SOME CHILDREN ARE EVEN BEING PLACED WITH FAMILIES OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY. We hope that people will be very inspired. CYFD officials say if you've ever even thought about being a foster family, this is the time. You are needed. You can visit koat-dot-com and look under "as seen on seven" to find out when free information meetings will be held in your community. In SF, AG KA7N. FOSTER PARENTS ARE REIMBURSED $450-TO- $650-DOLLARS A MONTH, PER CHILD. C-Y-F-D OFFICIALS SAY, YOU CAN BE SINGLE OR HAVE A FAMILY... BUT YOU MUST HAVE A SAFE LIVING ENVIRONMENT, BE FINANCIALLY STABLE, AND PASS AN EXTENSIVE